The weekend violence tally in Chicago looked painfully familiar—eight killed and 35 wounded. Included was an 18-year-old who had survived five previous shootings, but wasn’t so fortunate this time.
So far this year, more than 3,000 people have been the victims of violent criminals with guns. The Windy City also tallied more than 500 homicides, a figure already exceeding last year’s total.
What does Mayor Rahm Emanuel have to say about the unrelenting bloodshed? Nothing, apparently. The mayor’s office declined comment and referred questions to the police department.
For his part, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson blamed gangs—saying, “It’s not a police issue, it’s a society issue”—and refused to accept responsibility. Law enforcement “is doing its job,” he said.
With Chicagoans dying at record numbers, city officials can’t continue burying their heads in the sand and pointing fingers. Homicides are a crime problem, not a gun problem, and it’s time they were dealt with accordingly.
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